Fraud trial of Israel PM's wife postponed: Court

AFP  |  Jerusalem 

The trial of Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu's wife Sara, charged with fraud and breach of trust, has been postponed for three months, the court administration said today.

Sara Netanyahu's trial, which was set to open at the Jerusalem magistrates court on July 19, will instead start at the same court on October 7, it said.

The delay was approved by "at the request of the and the accused's representative," it said, without providing further details.

Sara Netanyahu, 59, was last month charged with misusing state funds to buy delivery meals costing USD 100,000 (85,000 euros) by falsely declaring there were no cooks available at the premier's official residence.

From 2010 to 2013 Netanyahu, her family and guests received "fraudulently from the state hundreds of prepared meals (each including a number of courses) to the value of 359,000 shekels," the indictment read.

Netanyahu, a high-profile presence at her husband's side throughout his lengthy time in office, has denied any wrongdoing.

dismissed the charges as "absurd".

Sarah Netanyahu's legal woes come as the himself is under the microscope over a series of alleged corruption offences.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, July 09 2018. 18:25 IST